The Cure for Chronic Pain with Nicole Sachs, LCSW

Not everything always goes as planned. Today, my partner Lisa Eisenpresser and I sat down to record a podcast on radical acceptance, Our communities have been asking for most content on the topic, and we happily obliged. But as we were attempting to talk through it, I kept getting blocked. Finally, Lisa called out what was happening. I was stuck and suffering, and she asked me what was up. As the...

Hello fam. This has been a tough week for those of us in the LA area. The fires have torn through our hearts and minds as well as so many families' homes of people dear to us. As we live through this fraught time in LA, we thought it would be most helpful to bring a reminder of the power of self compassion and the essential practices that can accelerate the healing journey. I hope that wherever th...

We have been hearing from many of you that you want more REAL TIME HEALS, and we have heeded the call. Shawna is a warrior who has fought her way back from many complications of Long COVID (she saw over 30 doctors!) and has made a lot of headway, but she still felt a bit stuck. This is precisely what RTHs are for! Today we discuss the complexity of COVID as a global panic, the ways we exacerbate o...

HAPPY NEW YEAR. Today we ring in 2025 with a very special friend of the pod, Gabby Bernstein. Gabby and I first met several years ago when she was struggling with some chronic issues. She found great success in JournalSpeak, and came on the pod to discuss. Check out our first episode here: S1 EP76: EPISODE 76 - GABBY BERNSTEIN'S TMS JOURNEY Gabby's latest book, SELF HELP, focuses on the teachings...

Here we are! The last pod of 2024. What a year. If there's one thing I embraced in the last 12 months, it's "I DON'T KNOW." And the more I think about it, it's a tremendous relief and the most fertile ground for change and awakening. Today, we talk about why the human brain resists "I don't know," and the big benefits of exchanging that fear for curiosity. Everything we want and dream of exists in...

With MIND YOUR BODY's premier quickly approaching, I wanted to take a moment to re-post an incredible conversation I had on Lisa Schlosberg's Out of the Cave podcast on the day pre-orders began. Lisa and I have been friends and colleagues for years, and we are both living this work every day. When we get together, there is always such a rich TMS discussion that ensues! Join us for a talk on all th...

WIth the holidays upon us, sometimes it's hard to keep ourselves from reflecting on our shortcomings. Are we doing enough? Is it as magical as it needs to be? Are we resentful because, "no one ever did this for me!?" Is everything such a trigger - family, kids, "planned fun", money, etc.? Even the most positive Holiday experience can include a measure of stress and overwhelm. Today we focus on a t...

When you speak to us, we hear you. People have been asking for more content that isn't simply a success story - they want to hear about the "messy middle" as I like to call it. The dark corners of recovery when things feel really hard and hopeless even though you've seen light before.  When I first met Jacqueline, she was down for the count with back pain. After learning about the brain science an...

As we enter into the holiday season, I'm popping in here to offer you a little guidance and perspective at a time when many humans get stuck in their big feelings. Inner child work, the way I teach it, has the power to free you from the pitfalls that can lead to symptoms, triggers, and short tempers. Join us today as I share some tips from my new book MIND YOUR BODY on my own inner child story, wh...

There's nothing like getting together for a Q&A with our BreakAwake Membership Community. We are so close and I get to know everyone so well - and their questions are always so open and vulnerable. They cut right to the heart of what we're doing here, and I love to answer them for all of you! Today we cover a wide variety of topics, among them Hip Pain, Food Intolerance, Fear, Nervous System Regul...

When Rachel Gofman was in college, she had terrible back pain - just like me! After going down the Western Medical rabbit hole to no avail, she discovered Dr. Sarno and her back pain subsided completely. But years later, when Rachel was in her Doctorate program for Physical Therapy, acute and widespread pelvic pain struck. Similar to me as well, this time she forgot all about Dr. Sarno and went fu...

Once in a while, something happens to me that is very personal but also salient as a teaching tool for TMS, and I feel it’s important to be brave and vulnerable enough to bring it to you. Today is one of those days. Last week, I chose to get vaccinated for Flu and Covid, something I have done at least a couple of times with no incident. What ensued was an extreme vaccine reaction which threatened...

Kamila has been through a lot. Not the least of which has been living in a very sensitive body since birth. A gifted athlete and loving sister, Kamila's life was rocked when the pandemic halted her professional beach volleyball career and then her beloved teenage brother was diagnosed with cancer. Looking back, Kamila has had TMS for her whole life (like so many of us), but it really ramped up wit...

There is nothing I love more than to bring you inspiration and truth from people walking this path all over the world… and, of course, from myself. Today on the podcast, we talk about a post I read this morning on our BreakAwake Membership Community. Lauren had been doing this work for a period of time and almost completely eliminated her chronic migraines, POTS, panic attacks, and anxiety. She su...

Gigi Cockell first found me in a space of complete despair. She was bed-bound with chronic pelvic pain which she described as a 15/10. This was after years of different chronic symptoms, both common and bizarre. After doing the work to regulate her nervous system, complete with a robust JournalSpeak practice, Gigi found me and asked to come on the pod to inspire others. Our original conversation i...

Resistance in life is the essential blockage that stands between each of us and everything we want and need. It's so tricky how this voice can whisper in our ears, making excuses, talking us out of things, or convicting us to put things off. This will not do! I want you to get this, and I want you to heal. I want you to live a life of freedom, and unstick from the things that keep you stuck - "saf...

The best part of our Membership Community is being with you LIVE on Zoom and seeing your faces, holding space for your fear and confusion, and answering your questions. It's so intimate and human, and it is the way we heal. Today's episode is a fantastic Q&A that covers so many topics - Control issues, self (and other) judgement, migraines, pelvic pain and surgeries, back pain, and so many other t...

The way I found Manon (and she found me!) is nothing short of amazing. After suffering with persistent headaches for weeks on end, Manon was at a breaking point. Although she was relieved that the expensive brain scan had come back negative, the panic and suffering the headaches brought was too much for her to bear. Manon was not sure she could go on living. Typing "chronic pain" into her podcast...

Today is a HUGE day for me, and for all of us. My new book, MIND YOUR BODY, is LIVE and on sale for pre-order! THANK YOU from my heart to all of you who have been relentless in your own healing. I am so excited and grateful to be able to hand you a book - ONE PLACE where every step of healing lives. This healing is for you, and YOU can be part of the movement to spread it all over the globe. PUB D...

This podcast has been around for a while now, so it's rare that I get to say that something is a "first ever." Today is one of those rare days. When I first interviewed Suzanne Tiger about her stunning chronic illness and pain recovery after 12 years of constant suffering, the story of her supportive husband Aaron got my attention. I spend all of my energy on this podcast guiding and supporting pe...

The best part of our Membership Community is being with you LIVE on Zoom and seeing your faces, holding space for your fear and confusion, and answering your questions. It's so intimate and human, and it is the way we heal. Today's episode is a fantastic Q&A that covers so many topics - Family Boundaries, Anxiety, UTIs, MS, and so many other topics are discussed. If you are new to this work, in th...

This interview is one for the history books. Not only is Rachel's story CRAZY inspirational, the magic that accompanies our knowing one another and the synergy of how it unfolded is uncommon and moving. I can't wait to share this one with you! Note: we had some unforeseen technical issues in the last 5 minutes of our talk, so please forgive the audio glitch. It doesn't take away 1% from the power...

Barb walked into my life on a chilly Saturday in February. She had flown all the way from New Jersey to Chicago to attend my first ever in person retreat - one of 20 people in attendance! Over the years I have watched Barb grow and flourish, releasing all of her chronic pain and first appearing on this podcast Season 1 Episode 41.She then wrote up her amazing story for inclusion in my upcoming boo...

PART THREE! People in our communities often refer to their favorite "Nicole-isms" - things I say over and over that hold a great deal of guidance for your recovery. We decided to dedicate a few podcasts to a deep dive into what I mean by some of these phrases, and how you can get the most out of them to aid in your ease and progress on this path. Today, we are taking on three final essential ones:...

PART TWO! People in our communities often refer to their favorite "Nicole-isms" - things I say over and over that hold a great deal of guidance for your recovery. We decided to dedicate a few podcasts to a deep dive into what I mean by some of these phrases, and how you can get the most out of them to aid in your ease and progress on this path. Today, we are taking on three more essential ones: En...